Latest news with #JoyGarratt
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Free high school equivalency tests coming soon in New Mexico
New Mexico will soon offer free high school equivalency tests to qualifying residents. (Getty Images) One hurdle to achieving a high school equivalency certificate will be removed next month when the New Mexico Higher Education Department starts providing free tests to qualifying residents. House Bill 167, sponsored by Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque), requires the state department to waive test costs for New Mexico residents who are at least 16; are not enrolled in secondary school; do not have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; and who have passed an official practice test showing they are likely to pass the official test. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill on April 7, making New Mexico the fifth state in the country to offer residents free equivalency tests. The bill goes into effect on June 20. Auriella Ortiz, spokesperson for the Higher Education Department, told Source NM in a written statement that removing the 'financial burden' of tests is expected to increase test participation by 20% or more over the next three years. She added that the state has seen a nearly 50% increase in people taking high school equivalency tests since 2021. Tests can cost more than $145 dollars per test, including fees for the test itself as well as proctoring. 'The passage of House Bill 167 will have a huge impact for our residents and allow them a pathway to basic education and potentially a pathway to higher education at New Mexico's colleges and universities,' Ortiz wrote. 'This legislation removes obstacles that will positively impact tens of thousands of New Mexicans.' Ortiz explained that the department currently has an ad hoc voucher program to provide free tests to New Mexicans, but there are still some barriers present. She said New Mexicans who earn a high school diploma or equivalent credential earn $6,465 more annually than those without. 'We should note that, given the average increase in salary just mentioned, the free testing system will pay for itself each year in income tax alone. It's a win for the state,' Ortiz wrote. 'Just as we have invested in tuition-free college and a trained workforce, a program of free high school equivalency tests for all New Mexicans in need is part of our state's continued push for a strong economy.' Rio Rancho Public Schools Communications Director Wyndham Kemsley told Source NM in an email that while the district is not directly involved in high school equivalency testing, its officials are pleased that the state is expanding access to credentials. 'While the main priority of RRPS is to help our students attain high school diplomas through traditional routes, widening access to high school equivalency testing will undoubtedly benefit our state's workforce,' he wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers want to raise New Mexico teacher salaries by $5,000
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Lawmakers are hoping to keep teachers in the state, by giving them a bigger paycheck. House Bill 156, proposes to tack another $5,000 a year onto base teacher salaries. In 2022, New Mexico teacher salaries increased by $10,000. The lead Democratic sponsor of this new bill says another increase is needed due to inflation and to bring teachers to New Mexico. 'It recognizes the professionalism in a career that we have to attract people and retain them,' said Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque). Story continues below Traffic and Roads: Three killed in 11-car pileup west of Lordsburg Don't Miss: Navajo storyteller brings representation in front and behind the camera Crime: Six suspects arrested in connection to home invasion in Taos County In 2022, the state raised teacher salaries by $10,000, bringing the base salaries based on vocational license to $50,000, $60,000, and $70,000 a year. Three years later, Rep. Garratt said that's not enough to keep up with the cost of living. 'And even though we raised the salaries several years ago, this deals with number one, inflation, which all educators feel. Number two it deals with the rising cost of insurance,' said Rep. Garratt. In comparison to other states, Rep. Garratt said New Mexico's teacher salaries fall short and it's getting harder to attract them to the state. 'At the moment, although our salaries are ranging above our surrounding states, they're still below the national average, in California it's more like $75-80,000. East Coast it's much higher,' said Rep. Garratt. The bill passed its first committee hearing unanimously. Rep. Garratt said she's confident it will make it through this session because the money needed for the raise is already available in the budget. 'I think it's really important to pass this bill with the teacher raises because our teachers are raising up the future New Mexicans,' said Rep. Garratt. The bill passed unanimously Tuesday evening and now heads to the House floor. If the bill were to pass, it could be rolled into the House Democrats' nearly $11 billion proposed budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NM House passes public safety package
New Mexico House Leader Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) and other House leaders previewed public safety and behavioral health proposals for the 2025 legislative session during a Jan. 10 news conference in Albuquerque. (Photo courtesy NM House Democrats) On Saturday, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed a six-bill package of public safety legislation on a 48-20 vote, sending the bills to the Senate. House Bill 8 includes several components, including: enhanced penalties for fentanyl trafficking; increased fourth-degree felony charge for making a shooting threat; criminalization for possession of a weapon conversion device; increased penalties for vehicle thefts; legislation to make it easier for police to conduct blood tests in DWI cases; and a controversial criminal competency bill that prompted criticism last week from a coalition of community organizations, which described said the package of legislation 'focuses on new crimes, increased punishments, and forced hospitalization.' Following the House passage, its co-sponsors and House leaders released statements lauding their work. 'We are taking a thoughtful, holistic approach to make New Mexicans safer,' Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque), co-sponsor of the competency legislation, said. 'This public safety package will help us address the pressing issues facing our communities today, and our investments in behavioral healthcare, housing, prevention, and treatment will help us to tackle the root causes of crime.' Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who traveled the state in advance of the session building support for her public safety agenda, also released a statement following the House package, which she described as 'a first step towards ensuring accountability for criminals and updating our criminal competency and civil commitment procedures. While it is an important step forward, our work isn't finished. I urge the Legislature to advance the remaining public safety bills. Each day that passes without action means more people get hurt and neighborhoods suffer. Get these public safety bills to my desk now—our communities deserve real protection, not more excuses. I will not stop until New Mexicans feel safe.' Other crime bills still making their way through the legislative process include House Bill 12, which makes changes to the state's extreme firearm protection law, as well as bills related to human trafficking, behavioral health and crime victims, among others. Prior to the session, House Democrats previewed their public safety agenda, which also includes a a $200 million toward expanding the state's behavioral healthcare infrastructure, which the Senate passed on Friday and will now proceed through the House committee process. 'We promised to work closely with our colleagues in the Senate to develop well-vetted solutions to the public safety and behavioral health challenges facing our state and we are delivering on that promise,' Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) said in a statement over the weekend. 'By working together to pass good legislation, rather than trying to score political points, we can make our communities safer and ensure that New Mexicans who are struggling can get the help they need.'
